BATES SCHOLARSHIP | Heller named Roy Bates Player of the Year

Saturday

May 16, 2020 at 12:01 AMMay 16, 2020 at 10:07 PM

WOOSTER — Sometimes, all a person needs is a chance.

Since Evan Heller got his big opportunity, he hasn’t stopped rolling with it.

The Wooster senior was the captain of the first three wheelchair interscholastic basketball state championship teams in Ohio history. Heller and the Generals compiled a record of 54-0 during his career.

Even more impressive, Heller became the first Ohio wheelchair athlete to earn a basketball scholarship when he signed with Auburn University earlier this year. He was also recruited by Alabama, Illinois and Missouri.

Heller also was a three-time state runner-up in seated (wheelchair) Ohio High School Athletic Association track events (100-meter, 400, 800), played the euphonium in the WHS band, ranks 75th in a class of 266 with a 3.55 GPA and has given back extensively through community service work.

Heller’s character, academics and athletic accomplishments have allowed him to make history once again. He’s the first wheelchair athlete to be named one of eight finalists for the Roy Bates Foundation Player of the Year Award, which is a component of the Wayne County Community Foundation. Each honoree will receive a one-time, $2,500 scholarship.

The Bates committee upped the honor further: Heller is the Roy Bates Foundation Player of the Year.

"It feels great," said Evan, the son of Scott and Amy Heller, who also have a younger son, Caiden, who wrestles for Waynedale. "I’ve worked so hard to get where I’m at that it’s a good feeling to even be in a position to be considered for (a Bates Scholarship). To win is an amazing accomplishment."

Life has been difficult from the start for Heller, who was born with congenital heart disease that required open heart surgery when he was six months old. He lives with the knowledge that he will possibly need at least one more heart surgery before age 23.

He was also born with a permanently disabling condition called spina bifida, which impacts his ability to walk. The way Heller sees it, though, "my personal motto is that the only disability in life is a bad attitude."

That doesn’t mean Heller always had a rosy outlook on life. He admits that before he started participating in wheelchair sports it was depressing to watch from the sidelines as classmates participated in a wide variety of activities.

"When I was younger I was kind of down on myself," Heller said. "I couldn’t run like the other kids and there weren’t really any opportunities for me to participate in sports. I tried adaptive baseball, but didn’t really like it.

"Once my family moved to Wooster in 2014, I got to know Mrs. (Lisa) Followay and she informed me about ASPO (Adaptive Sports Program of Ohio) and its wheelchair basketball team," Heller said. "Once I started playing, I didn’t want to stop. I’ve always loved sports and finally had a chance to play.

"Obviously, (ASPO) and wheelchair basketball has changed my life. I have a scholarship to Auburn."

Former Wooster athletic director Andy Kellar worked with Followay to start the state’s first wheelchair high school team at Wooster. Five schools had teams this winter.

The Generals beat Tallmadge 45-26 in the 2020 state title game, led by Heller’s 27 points. His career high is 36.

Heller also plays for the Junior Wheelchair Cleveland Cavaliers team. In 2019, he was named one of the top 10 players in the country as a member of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association’s All-Tournament team.

"To watch Evan play basketball is jaw-dropping," Tefs said. "What might not get highlighted as much is the type of person he is.

"He is also a great student, a musician, a consummate gentleman and an extremely articulate young man. He’s an extremely hard worker. We are certainly very proud of him and I know he’s going to be an absolutely amazing Wooster alumnus."

True to the character assessment by Tefs and others who know Heller, the Auburn recruit listed an accomplishment of a teammate as his most memorable sports moment.

"If I had to pick a favorite memory it would be when Makayla (Maxwell) scored her first basket," Heller said. "We had both worked hard in practice and to see all her hard work pay off was a great feeling.

"Another favorite memory is just being on the track team with all my friends and going out there and competing together. I can’t ask for anything more than experiences like that."

Heller wants to become a special education teacher and possibly coach and teach in the Wooster school district. He has gained experience volunteering the last two summers at Flying Horse Farms Summer Camp in Mt. Gilead, where he worked with children who have life threatening illnesses.

"My role was to perform service projects, learn leadership skills, and help campers enjoy a summer camp experience and get away from their illness," Heller said.

Wooster intervention specialist Drew Gerber played a big role in helping Heller mature as a student and athlete.

"I was struggling with my academics and Mr. Gerber just told me it would be OK and showed me ways to improve," Heller said. "He was my track coach, too.

"Mr. Gerber really helped motivate me with my school work and in track. He’s my favorite teacher and a great guy."

Heller has done more than just participate in adaptive sports – he’s become an advocate for challenged athletes like himself. Last spring, Heller was invited to the Ohio State House in Columbus and met with Governor Mike DeWine’s chief advisor and state senators to educate them about adaptive sports and ask for more funding and access in Ohio school districts.

He was also a featured presenter the last two years at the All-in student leadership conference at Stark State Community College.

As the only high school speaker on a panel that also included the president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Heller said he challenged attendees from more than 30 school districts to see beyond a person’s disabilities.

Evan Heller has already made lots of people see what’s possible for wheelchair athletes. It will be thrilling to watch what doors he can open up for himself and others in the future.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the final part of an eight-article series on the finalists for the Roy S. Bates Foundation Player of the Year Award. Heller’s hard work in sports and the classroom enabled him to be named one of eight finalists for the Roy Bates Foundation Player of the Year Award, which is a component of the Wayne County Community Foundation. Finalists are selected based on character, academics and athletic accomplishments and each honoree will receive a one-time, $2,500 scholarship

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